An Evening of Transatlantic Friendship: Theatre, Dialogue and Community

To mark German-American Day and to celebrate the long-standing city partnership between Hamburg and Chicago, the English Theatre of Hamburg invites you to a special evening full of live performance, cultural exchange and community.

At the heart of the evening is the acclaimed absurdist play THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS by Mickle Maher, presented by Chicago-born director Rebecca Garron. Following the play, we take a look at Chicago's theatre scene and the legacy of the absurd in American theatre.

In the spirit of connection and collaboration, representatives of various American clubs and institutions in Hamburg will also have their say. In short contributions, they introduce our city's vibrant and diverse transatlantic community.

The evening is rounded off with a few musical surprises and a relaxed reception offering space for exchange and encounter. Together we celebrate how art, friendship and cultural dialogue connect us anew again and again.

At the end of his play The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov wrote: “Suddenly a distant sound is heard, as if from the sky, like the sound of a breaking string, dying away slowly and sadly.” This stage direction - one of the most famous in theatre history - has occupied sound designers for over a century.

In THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS, playwright Mickle Maher takes on this challenge in a highly absurd way: he has two of cultural history's most famous deaf figures - Ludwig van Beethoven and Quasimodo, the fictional bell-ringer of Notre-Dame - jointly attempt to create precisely this sound. In eleven humorous, sometimes bizarre scenes (“variations”), we witness their futile struggle - hampered by their deafness, poor working conditions and the fact that Beethoven hasn't even finished reading The Cherry Orchard.

The play is a clever and at the same time moving exploration of the question of sound, music and performance - and a profound meditation on artistic collaboration and the creative process.

(Text: The English Theatre)

The Amerikazentrum Hamburg is pleased to support this special evening by the English Theatre. This event is a wonderful example of how German-American friendship is strengthened through culture and art.

Get your tickets now!

Please note: enter the code chicago to receive a EUR 5 discount.

Did you know? German-American Day is celebrated every year on 6 October. It was established in 1983 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan to honour the deep cultural, historical and political ties between Germany and the USA.

This day honours the millions of Americans of German descent - one of the largest population groups in the United States - and commemorates the long-standing partnership between the two countries in areas such as diplomacy, trade, education, defence, science and culture.